Wanting the evening to go smoothly, Sage prepared a meal that Calvin didn’t allow himself very often. Steak and fries with a side of coleslaw. The food was replicated so it was nutritious and not fatty, but it also tricked the body and brain into craving more carbs and calories per day.

It was time for him to walk through the doors of their quarters, having finished his shift on the bridge. Sage felt a little thrill of excitement as she watched the door for his arrival. They hadn’t been very close lately—ever since his promotion and their ensuing argument. Well, she was tired of the self imposed distance and had promised herself that she’d do her best to heal their wounded feelings that night.

—Sage